"Hm?"
"This is..."
Zephyr, who had been locked into a dream world by Merlin, suddenly found himself plunged into darkness.
Just as he was about to unleash his Haki and try to break through the illusion,
a hazy glimmer of light appeared before his eyes, followed by a voice that was both unfamiliar and familiar.
The voice sounded so weary and weak, yet so gentle and filled with longing.
"Is... is it out, my child?"
"Everything went smoothly. Congratulations, it's a very healthy boy!"
Then, as wailing cries came from "his own" mouth,
urgent knocking sounded outside. "Kena, are you all right? I heard the baby crying!"
This voice was equally unfamiliar and familiar.
Only when he opened his eyes did he finally see that beautiful face he had missed so dearly.
His mother.
His incredibly young mother, drenched in sweat yet smiling with joy.
He understood.
He had "returned" to the moment of his birth.
Zephyr looked at the woman before him and listened to his father's voice outside.
The thought of releasing his Haki gradually faded from his mind, replaced by a greedy desire to linger here a little longer.
In the days that followed,
he accompanied his younger self and his young parents through one day after another, as a mere observer.
The seasons turned, and time flowed on.
"Come find me anytime!"
"My name is Z, the Hero of Justice!"
Zephyr could not help but laugh at the sight.
This was when his five-year-old self had defeated three bad boys armed with sticks at Heres Island's harbor to help a little girl being bullied.
Even after it was over, he had not forgotten to strike what he thought was a cool pose and shout the slogan he had spent so long coming up with.
Back then,